What is Kendo about?

[Shogun97]

Hello to everyone!

1. Some days ago after training my Sensai asked us what Kendo would be about. I coulden't find a satisfying answer.
What is your oppinion?

2. What is Kendo for you?
A sport, a hobby, a livestyle, a thing to show of with..................?

Thank you to everyone who answers.
C.U

[samurai999]

Ok, I'll take a crack at this one.

To me kendo is (haha seems like something in an essay contest)

1st - A return to my roots. My mom always told me stories when I was little about my ancestors being samurai and all so I thought it would be cool to do what they did.

2nd - A return to my culture. I was born and raised "American" so I never got too much exposure to my culture (even though there was a Buddhist church only 10min away!!)

3rd - A way to meet new people. I was fairly isolated in high school and in college since I was always in front of a computer doing homework and projects, so I thought it would be one way to meet people.

4th - A way to get exercise. Again, being an engineer made me too fat since again, I sit in front of a computer screen all day. Maybe I'm in the wrong profession? LOL :D

5th - A way to release stress. Letting out a good deal of kiai or doing stuff like kyoka renshu is a way to release stress and to make myself stronger. This helps when homework gets frustrating or when finals are over. It lets your mind refocus.

Tim

[meow]

Hello,

I started kendo out of curiosity and because I wanted to practice a martial art again. I did shotokan karate about ten years ago and liked that but had to quit because of several reasons. Still, the desire to practice a martial art was always there.

What I like about kendo is that it seems more "mature". But this is only my personal opinion and I don´t want to criticise any other art. Karate has given me a lot and I have a high respect for every martial art, no matter what.

The first positive effect kendo has for me: I excercise more then I did the last years. I used to do some fitness training, jogging and biking but I had no goal. So sometimes when I went to the gym I was wondering "what am I doing all this for?"

Kendo is much deeper then just doing workouts or pumping iron. It is fascinating to watch skilled kendoka. I want to learn and now I have a goal why I want to be fit and in good form.

Right now kendo for me is at first: a lot of fun and a fascinating art.

[CUDALAX21]

Damn that's a good question

For me Kendo has been a way to find who I really am. All through Elementry and Middle school i was made fun of and I became an "outcast" but during high school i met a guy who was all about weaponry and martial arts. I looked into the subject and found the term samurai. I was amazed about how the samurai were such honorable warriors (damn good warriors too) and I just had that feeling that told me "that's i'm going to be" (not a samurai but an honorable warrior). So I tried find every martial art the samurai learned, hence i'm in Kendo and Iaido. :)
So in short Kendo has changed my life by giving me confidence in myself and helped me to better my life by living to honor myself and not worry what other people thought of me

[Yowai]

Ok, I'll take a crack at this one.
To me kendo is (haha seems like something in an essay contest)

...

Tim

Please tell me that list was a joke. Please...

[ALI G]

Please tell me that list was a joke. Please...

Youz Kendoz iz da jokez......

[samurai999]

Please tell me that list was a joke. Please...


You make me laugh yowai.. You'd really think I'd lie about something like that?

Tim

[samurai999]

Actually now that I think about it (as a curiosity), what did you think I'd say, Mr. weak?

Tim

[Niels]

Kendo (for me) is improving myself, the guy i am in the dojo, and the guy i am outside the dojo.

Oh and also it's a healthy excersize

--Niels

[Shogun97]

So I tried find every martial art the samurai learned, hence i'm in Kendo and Iaido. :)

Hey CUDALAX21,
If I'm not wrong Iaido the art to fight a samurai just with a wooden stick, isn't it? What is it like?
I'm thinking of getting started with Iaido so I wondered.


Meow said:
'Kendo is much deeper then just doing workouts or pumping iron. It is fascinating to watch skilled kendoka. I want to learn and now I have a goal why I want to be fit and in good form.'

I think he right with what he said. That's the point: not just pumping iron!
It's a skill which has his own philosophy!

[Bleda]

Jodo is the wooden stick. Iaijutsu is the art of drawing the blade and cutting at the same time. If kendo is more battlefield sword tactics, then iaido would be the "omg the guy jumped out from behind a building and is gonna chop me what do i do!" sword art. Of course iaido, just like kendo, is not for everyone and you really have to see a class to get a feeling for what it is.

[Hai_hai]

Hello to everyone!

1. Some days ago after training my Sensai asked us what Kendo would be about. I coulden't find a satisfying answer.
What is your oppinion?

2. What is Kendo for you?
A sport, a hobby, a livestyle, a thing to show of with..................?

Thank you to everyone who answers.
C.U

It's about properly ironing your hakama.

[not-I]

It's about properly ironing your hakama.
hehe, how true.

reminds me of case 7 from the Mumon-roku

"A monk told Joshu: I have just entered the monastery. Please teach me."
Joshu asked: "Have you eated your rice porridge?"
The monk replied: "I have eaten."
Joshu said: "Then you had better wash your bowl."
At that moment the monk was enlightened.

It is too clear and so it is hard to see.
A dunce once searched for a fire with a lighted lantern.
Had he know what fire was,
He could have cooked his rice much sooner.

[[Kensei 剣の聖者]]

its about disicpline

[jonjayjaca]

Dear all,

Kendo is a mystery for those of us who are not japanese. It used to be in the past. But now we are at present that Kendo is known all over the world. Kendo evolved beyond discipline. Kendo originated as a discipline but as one loves kendo it becomes love. It's Kendo for the world!

But still Kendo remains a mystery for those who started and stopped practising it. Kendo has no end. When one begins, as long it's her/his heart dictates her/him, Kendo is what Kendo is. A warrior of war was shaped to be a warrior for peace. It is the meaning that describes.

The path is very difficult.

It needs perseverance...like facing life a paper-thin difference when situation calls for it. Kendo is a decision to make! It's not simple. Patience and discipline make it a reality.

jay

[[Kensei 剣の聖者]]

then kendo is what you make it!

[Shogun97]

Dear all,

Kendo is a mystery for those of us who are not japanese. It used to be in the past. But now we are at present that Kendo is known all over the world. Kendo evolved beyond discipline. Kendo originated as a discipline but as one loves kendo it becomes love. It's Kendo for the world!

But still Kendo remains a mystery for those who started and stopped practising it. Kendo has no end. When one begins, as long it's her/his heart dictates her/him, Kendo is what Kendo is. A warrior of war was shaped to be a warrior for peace. It is the meaning that describes.

The path is very difficult.

It needs perseverance...like facing life a paper-thin difference when situation calls for it. Kendo is a decision to make! It's not simple. Patience and discipline make it a reality.

jay
like this one best!!!!!

[Yuudai]

I like this one the best as well. And I'd love to be able to contribute what I think, but as I haven't quite started kendo yet I don't feel as though I have the right to think anything. >.<

[Masahiro]

"ken to wa kokoro nari". .. ...

[Zaphiel]

"ken to wa kokoro nari". .. ...
aahhhhh....yes.....:confused2
and what do you mean by this?(just for everyone who is not speaking this )

[Hai_hai]

aahhhhh....yes.....:confused2
and what do you mean by this?(just for everyone who is not speaking this )

I think it's ken wa kokoro nari

[Masahiro]

"ken wa kokoro nari" means the sword and the heart/soul are the same. .. ..


"ken to wa kokoro nari" means the path of the sword and the heart is that of the same.

If this thread was titled "what is the sword about" i would write "ken wa kokoro nari"


Thank you for your kind reponse! <rei>

[Zaphiel]

"ken wa kokoro nari" means the sword and the heart/soul are the same. .. ..


"ken to wa kokoro nari" means the path of the sword and the heart is that of the same.

If this thread was titled "what is the sword about" i would write "ken wa kokoro nari"


Thank you for your kind reponse! <rei>
thanks<rei>,
like this........ken to wa kokoro nari...like it!!

[Dante]

what kendo is for me,


Theres totaly respect for each other, there are no real hostile intentions
its all a gentlemans "sport". That i think our socity is lacking more and more.
Here i can find a little bit of faith for something better then the grey everyday media etc gives you. Its something to put your mind to,

Honour,Respect,Friendship